Symphony's Annual Meeting brings cutting edge ideas and 1 million dollars to help make it happen

Jun 27, 2008

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow: 326-3136

SPOKANE - As part of the presentation on Internet 2 technology and its future for music education offered by the Spokane Symphony and Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, Music Director Eckart Preu announced a $1 million gift from the Welty Family Learning Fund.

The surprise announcement was part of the Spokane Symphony’s Annual Meeting held Tuesday in Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. The donation was announced just before the grand opening of the theater in November as an anonymous gift, but it was determined that the Pinchas Zukerman presentation was the time to make the announcement of the Welty Family Learning Center public.

Zukerman, a world renowned violinist and conductor who has been on the cutting edge of using technology to further music education, joined the meeting in a real-time via the internet from the National Arts Center of Canada in Ottawa with discussion led by Preu.

Martin Woldson Theater The Fox, equipped with the latest generation of high-speed internet, is developing its plan to make use of Spokane’s high degree of connectivity. The National Arts Center of Canada, the Manhattan School of Music and the New World Symphony are acting as resources as the local staff works to develop the Spokane plan.

Zukerman described how he is using the technology without losing the human touch and challenged the Symphony board to use the technology that he says improves daily, to make the best of the opportunity they have been provided to reach out to the region as well as across town.

“There is a wealth of fiber optic connectivity in Spokane – an incredible resource for the region. We believe the programs from the Welty Family Learning Center will bring together the resources of the Spokane Symphony and the Theater to enrich and expand our outreach to the region – allowing us to serve as a catalyst for connectivity,” said Executive Director Brenda Nienhouse.

The message by Zukerman was the highlight of the Annual Meeting but other important milestones were accomplished.

• The Spokane Symphony Board of Trustees approved a $4.3 million budget for the 2009 fiscal year. This is the third year of a four-year contract which extends through August 2010 It provides for pay increases for musicians, between 3 and 4.5 percent per year. These base wage increases along with increased services by the musicians provide for a competitive wage contributing to the institution’s ability to attract and retain musicians. The service increases will also provide for expanded programming in the Fox Theater, local and regional outreach, as well as educational programs.
• The Spokane Symphony Associates were recognized as the orchestra’s largest donor. The volunteer organization donated $198,000 to the orchestra’s 2008 operating budget. Most of the funds raised by the group came from the annual Christmas Tree Elegance.
• New and renewing trustees elected are Les Weatherhead, Matt Ewers, Karen Feltes, Gerard Fischer and Carol Mangan.  New officers are Maggie Crawford, president; Ronald Stanley, president-elect; Joe Dinnison, treasurer; and Sandra Kernerman, secretary.